There’s a structure to NPR newsmagazine programs on WXPR that’s about to change.
NPR news shows are governed by a ‘clock.’ These graphical representations of each hour lay out what happens in a program and when.
Whether it’s a newscast, A Writer’s Almanac, Marketplace Morning Report or a report from a community contributor, it happens at a precise time according to the clock.
This clock coordinates between hosts in NPR’s studios in Washington and WXPR’s hosts, so we don’t end up talking over each other.
For years these broadcast ‘clocks’ have not changed. But how we listen to the radio and get our news has changed.
NPR has redesigned the show clocks along with input from select stations across the country. Research was consulted about people’s listening routines. Thought went into what you will hear during each minute of the shows when the new clocks go into effect on November 17th.
Some of the adjustments are small and you probably won’t notice them. Others are more noticeable. For instance, the times when you hear news updates in Morning Edition will change. There will be NPR news updates every twenty minutes during the program.
Other familiar segments will air at a different time.
The bottom line is, if you know when to walk the dog or leave the house based on when something happens on the radio, you might want to keep your watch handy until you get to know the rhythm of the new ‘clocks.’
Here are several changes to note:
There will be two WXPR local newscasts each hour instead of one.
Laura Erickson’s For the Birds will air at 9:00am – just before Midday Classics.
A Writer’s Almanac will air at 6:45a and 8:45a.
National Native News will air at 4:45p instead of 4:30p.
Overall, there will be more frequent opportunities to present local content.
